IP Library Granted Patent US 11,813,503
Granted Patent B2
US 11,813,503 · App. 17/525,202 · Granted Nov 14, 2023

Laser-contrasted golf club head and manufacturing process

Inventors: Stephanie Luttrell (Carlsbad, CA); Vincent Jacobson (Murrieta, CA); Kevin Wolfe (Fallbrook, CA)
Assignee: Acushnet Company
A63B53/04C23C14/028A63B53/0441A63B2209/00
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,813,503
App. No.
17/525,202
Filed
Nov 12, 2021
Granted
Nov 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3711
USPC
473/330
Abstract

A golf club head having a laser-generated features to create contrast on the club face of the golf club head. The club face includes a central region, a toe region, and a heel region. The central region includes a first plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region, a width-intersection coverage of the central region, and a surface-area coverage of the central region. The toe region includes a second plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the toe region, a width-intersection coverage of the toe region, and a surface-area coverage of the toe region. The heel region includes a third plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the heel region, a width-intersection coverage of the heel region, and a surface-area coverage of the heel region.

Claims (46)

1. A driver-type golf club head, comprising:

a first plurality of laser-generated features on a central region of a club face, wherein the first plurality of laser-generated features have a first geometric pattern and provide at least two of a height-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 80%, a width-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 80%, or a surface-area coverage of the central region of at least 50%;

a coating covering the central region, the first plurality of laser-generated features, a toe region of the golf club head, and a heel region of the golf club head;

wherein the coating on the toe region does not cover a second plurality of laser-generated features on the toe region of the club face, wherein the second plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features, have a second geometric pattern different from the first geometric pattern, are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the first plurality of laser-generated features, and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features; and

wherein the coating on the heel region does not cover a third plurality of laser-generated features on the heel region of the club face, wherein the third plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features, have the second geometric pattern, are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the first plurality of laser-generated features, and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features.

2. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the club face comprises a contrast between the central region and the toe region.

3. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the height-intersection coverage of the central region is at least 90% and the width-intersection coverage of the central region is at least 90%.

4. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the club face has a maximum width in a heel-to-toe direction, and the central region has a maximum width between 30-50% of the maximum width of the club face.

5. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the height-intersection coverage is measured using a height increment of 0.1 mm, and wherein the width-intersection coverage is measured using a width increment of 0.1 mm.

6. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the club face does not include any grooves or scorelines.

7. The driver-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:

the first plurality of laser-generated features provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 95% and a width-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 95%;

the second plurality of laser-generated features extend in a heel-to-toe direction;

the second plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the toe region of at least 90%;

the third plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the heel region of at least 90%; and

a combination of the first plurality of laser-generated features, the second plurality of laser-generated features, and the third plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the entire face of at least 90%.

8. A driver-type golf club head, comprising:

a first plurality of laser-generated features on a central region of a club face, wherein the first plurality of laser-generated features have a first geometric pattern and provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 90%, a width-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 90%, or a surface-area coverage of the central region of at least 50%, wherein the height-intersection coverage is measured using a height increment of 0.1 mm, and wherein the width-intersection coverage is measured using a width increment of 0.1 mm;

a coating covering the central region, the first plurality of laser-generated features, a toe region of the golf club head, and a heel region of the golf club head;

wherein the coating on the toe region does not cover a second plurality of laser-generated features on the toe region of the club face, wherein the second plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features, have a second geometric pattern different from the first geometric pattern, and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features; and

wherein the coating on the heel region does not cover a third plurality of laser-generated features on the heel region of the club face, wherein the third plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features, have a third geometric pattern different from the first geometric pattern and the second geometric pattern, and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features.

9. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the club face comprises a contrast between the central region and the toe region.

10. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the height-intersection coverage of the central region is at least 95% and the width-intersection coverage of the central region is at least 95%.

11. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the club face has a maximum width in a heel-to-toe direction, and the central region has a maximum width between 30-50% of the maximum width of the club face.

12. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein:

the first plurality of laser-generated features are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the third plurality of laser-generated features; and

the second plurality of laser-generated features are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the first plurality of laser-generated features.

13. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the club face does not include any grooves or scorelines.

14. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein:

the first plurality of laser-generated features provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 95% and a width-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 95%;

the second plurality of laser-generated features extend in a heel-to-toe direction;

the second plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the toe region of at least 90%;

the third plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the heel region of at least 90%; and

a combination of the first plurality of laser-generated features, the second plurality of laser-generated features, and the third plurality of laser-generated features provide a width-intersection coverage of the entire face of at least 90%.

15. The driver-type golf club head of claim 8 , wherein a toe-most edge of the second plurality of laser-generated features is within 5 mm of a perimeter of the club face, and a heel-most edge of the third plurality of laser-generated features is within 5 mm of a perimeter of the club face.

16. A driver-type golf club head, comprising:

a first plurality of laser-generated features on a central region of a club face, wherein the first plurality of laser-generated features have a first geometric pattern and provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 90%, a width-intersection coverage of the central region of at least 90%, or a surface-area coverage of the central region of at least 50%, wherein the height-intersection coverage is measured using a height increment of 0.1 mm, and wherein the width-intersection coverage is measured using a width increment of 0.1 mm;

a coating covering the central region, the first plurality of laser-generated features, a toe region of the golf club head, and a heel region of the golf club head;

wherein the coating on the toe region does not cover a second plurality of laser-generated features on the toe region of the club face, wherein the second plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features, have a second geometric pattern that is different from the first geometric pattern, and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features, wherein a toe-most edge of the second plurality of laser-generated features is within 5 mm of a perimeter of the club face; and

wherein the coating on the heel region does not cover a third plurality of laser-generated features on the heel region of the club face, wherein the third plurality of laser-generated features are different from the first plurality of laser-generated features and do not overlap with the first plurality of laser-generated features, wherein a heel-most edge of the third plurality of laser-generated features is within 5 mm of a perimeter of the club face.

17. The driver-type golf club head of claim 16 , wherein the club face does not include any grooves or scorelines.

18. The driver-type golf club head of claim 16 , wherein:

the first plurality of laser-generated features are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the third plurality of laser-generated features; and

the second plurality of laser-generated features are spaced apart, in a heel-to-toe direction, from the first plurality of laser-generated features.

19. The driver-type golf club head of claim 18 , further comprising a laser-generated band contoured to match a lower boundary of the club face, wherein the band is offset from a perimeter of the golf club face by a distance of less than 5 mm.

20. The driver-type golf club head of claim 18 , wherein the first plurality of laser-generated features are non-linear features.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2025
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 073689/0464 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: ACUSHNET COMPANY
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 061099/0236 →